Merced police say tip of man's nose was bitten off during fight

A 49-year-old Merced man was arrested Saturday on suspicion of biting off the tip of another man's nose, Merced police reported.

Merced Police Department officers responded to the 1000 block of West Fourth Street and spoke with the victim, who reported that suspect Carl Aguilar had bitten a portion of his nose off. The victim said the bite happened during a fight between the two men after they had been drinking.

The officers located Aguilar, who denied biting the man, although he later admitted committing the crime, officers reported. Aguilar was keeping the detached portion of the man's nose in a cup of water in a refrigerator, just in case in could be reattached, police said.

Aguilar was booked into the John Latorraca Correctional Center on suspicion of mayhem, where he remains in lieu of $100,000 bail.